North American Division Responds to Québec Mosque Shooting

Spectrum Website
1

The North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists has joined world leaders by releasing a statement today offering "deepest condolences" in response to the shooting of six Muslim men at a mosque in Québec, Canada. The shooting prompted In a statement issued to the media, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said “We condemn this terrorist attack on Muslims in a centre of worship and refuge."

U.S. President Donald Trump has so far not issued a statement on the shooting, but his press secretary said that Trump offered Trudeau condolences, prayers and the offer of law enforcement aid. Spicer then used the opportunity to reiterate the Trump Administration's resolve in banning immigration to the United States from seven majority-Muslim countries. "It's a terrible reminder of why we must remain vigilant. And why the president is taking steps to be proactive, not reactive,'' Spicer said, linking the Québec mosque shooting Trump's immigration ban.

Canadian law enforcement arrested and charged French Canadian university student Alexandre Bissonnette with the shooting. According to an Associated Press report, Bissonnette holds far-right, nationalist views and supports a French rightist party led by Marine Le Pen and has expressed support for Donald Trump on social media.

The North American Division, which represents the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the United States and Canada, issued a statement decrying the Québec shooting. That statement is printed below in its entirety. The NAD also has pointed to a 2015 Huffington Post article, "Adventists Respond to the Call to Care for Refugees," authored by President Daniel Jackson as the NAD's response to the Trump Administration's immigration ban.

1-30-17 The Seventh-day Adventist Church in Canada Issues Statement After Mosque Shooting in Québec

The Seventh-day Adventist Church in Canada joins citizens across our nation in mourning the loss of six innocent lives in the senseless killings that occurred on Sunday evening at the Mosque in Québec City, Québec. We extend our deepest condolences to the families of each victim, continuing to keep them in our prayers. We are heartbroken that a space of safety, security, and peace for many has been violated.

The Seventh-day Adventist Church in Canada affirms that there is no place for hatred of a person’s race or religion, as well as the actions that are based on this hatred. We believe that God has called us to love all of our neighbours equally, regardless of race, gender, religion, or lifestyle. Therefore, we stand with the people of Quebec and with the people across Canada that will continue to daily demonstrate a spirit of love, compassion, and peace in midst of such sadness and despair.

We pray for the day when all people of all races, genders, religions, and lifestyles can live their lives without fear or hatred. We encourage the members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church to embody the character of Jesus by demonstrating the love and compassion He exemplified. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” (Matthew 5:9, NIV).

Jared Wright is Managing Editor of SpectrumMagazine.org.

If you respond to this article, please:

Make sure your comments are germane to the topic; be concise in your reply; demonstrate respect for people and ideas whether you agree or disagree with them; and limit yourself to one comment per article, unless the author of the article directly engages you in further conversation. Comments that meet these criteria are welcome on the Spectrum Website. Comments that fail to meet these criteria will be removed.

This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at http://spectrummagazine.org/node/7862
1 Like
2

this is a heart-breaking story that has dominated the news here in calgary all week…some compare this atrocity in quebec city, perpetrated by alexandre bissonnette, to the charleston church shooting of june 17, 2015, perpetrated by dylann roof…many explanations have been floated, including the historical tensions between quebecois francophone culture and every other culture, including muslim culture, in its midst…quebecois francophones are said to be feeling on the ropes as an endangered species…it is certainly understood that quebec’s politicians predictably exploit xenophobia for their benefit…

i think the trump election, with its belligerent hostility to muslims, and others, must be considered a factor…there are those who believe that prime minister justin trudeau has been carefully cultivating a character foil of trump to dissociate canada from trumpian america without sacrificing important economic ties, but whatever his motives, i don’t think he’s lofty rhetoric has neutralized the impact trump has had on canadians who have forgotten that all they are and have has essentially been annexed from canada’s aboriginals, and that the least they can do is extend some kind of helping hand to others…alexandre bissonnette is too young to have formulated any kind of thinking independently…and as a barometer of his environment, i think it’s sad that a city as stunningly beautiful as quebec city can camouflage such ugliness…

one can only hope that ISIS, and others, will overlook this episode, seeing as how canada cannot possibly be a primary target…but something tells me there will be retribution…i believe we have trump to thank for the escalated tensions that the quebec mosque shooting represents…can canada really continue being the unpretentious refuge that no-one ever imagines having a disagreement with…we’ll see…

3

You are dead wrong.

Long before Canadians know who Trump was. Quebec has been cess-pool, breeding beds, hot seats xenophobia belligerent of quebecois francophone white supremacist hostility to immigrants who don’t speak Quebec french.

Yes, you are much alive on this. When you said, “it is certainly understood that quebec’s politicians predictably exploit xenophobia for their benefit…”

No matter what President Donald Trump does. Angry American antagonists rights to object, protest and make decent disagreement impossible.

Pay attention to Dan Jackson issues statement after mosque shooting in Quebec. It is so refreshing NAD President Daniel Jackson, not a loose talk, invite growing consensus of Adventists to love muslims. When was the last time you invited your muslim community to your Sabbath Service.

4

To an attack in canada? Really stretching aren’t you?

2 Likes
5

Quelle surprise de lire un commentaire d’un esprit faible, rempli de haine, mensonge et ignorance? Violence elsewhere in the country is just part of society, but when it happens in Quebec, it’s because there is something deeply flawed about us. Never mind that Quebec has just about the lowest rate of violent crime in all of Canada; never mind that the vast majority of Quebec voters rejected the xenophobic proposals of certain politicians; never mind that Quebecers from all origins, languages, religions and political persuasions denounced the actions of a single demented murderous individual. Never mind all that - there will always be some extremely small minds who will tar and feather us because of who we are - displaying their own ignorant xenophobia.

1 Like
7

I appreciate Elder Jackson’s response of love for ALL. Abubakar does not respond in that spirit, I’m afraid. There will always be some who act out of hatred of others, unfortunately, but I doubt they are representative of all who live in Quebec.

8

Also, hostility to immigrants who DO speak French if they don’t look pur laine

9